The Shaolin Chief Abbot from DGSD, Yeun Chi, was one of the most powerful non Superelite/Elite characters in the story. Shaolin would not have selected a pushover to be its Chief Abbot.
When Yeun Chi died, the physical cause was a beating on his backside by wooden sticks. The beating was administered by low-level Shaolin monks who probably didn't have extraordinary strength (both muscular or internal chi).
Yeun Chi was filled with shame and remorse at the time for his role in the Gate of Ah Mun Massacre and subsequent cover-up that had resulted in numerous deaths and tainted the reputation of Kiu Fung. He was willing to accept his punishment and thus, probably dropped all defense his internal chi would have provided against the beating.
Even so, Yeun Chi would have been a tough physical specimen even without his inner chi. I really doubt that a beating by wooden sticks (on his backside, no less, not his head, which would more likely have been fatal) administered by relatively weak low-level monks would kill him.